The Goodman Theatre presents Tennessee Williams' Camino Real in a re-imagined adaptation by Calixto Bieito and Marc Rosich, officially opening March 12, following previews that began March 3, at Goodman's Albert Theatre. Broadway's André De Shields is among the population of the surreal play, which was a departure for Williams in the 1950s.

André De Shields
Photo by Liz Lauren

Spanish director Bieito, who makes his American debut with Camino Real, helms the production that plays a limited engagement through April 8.

The cast includes David Darlow as Jacques Casanova, Matt DeCaro as Gutman, Tony Award nominee De Shields (The Full Monty) as Baron De Charlus, Marilyn Dodds Frank as Marguerite Gautier, Carolyn Ann Hoerdemann as The Gypsy, Antwayn Hopper (Hair) as Kilroy, Travis A. Knight as The Survivor/Abdullah, Monica Lopez as Esmeralda, Michael Medeiros as The Dreamer, Mark L. Montgomery as Lord Byron, Jonno Roberts as Lobo, Barbara E. Robertson as Rosita and Jacqueline Williams as La Madrecita De Los Perdidos.

According to Goodman, "The phrase 'camino real' translates from Spanish as 'royal road' — but in Williams' play it represents a dead end. Camino Real places familiar characters from literature — such as Don Quixote (Medeiros), Casanova (Darlow) and Lord Byron (Montgomery) — in a mythical town in an unspecificed Latin American country where the 'spring of humanity has gone dry.' These literary characters are joined by characters who are products of Williams' imagination, such as a freaky faction of 'streetcleaners' whose job is to remove corpses from the streets, and an enigmatic gypsy (Hoerdemann). When Kilroy (Hopper), an American traveler and former boxer inadvertently lands in Camino Real, he sets off on a venture through illusion and temptation in an attempt to flee its confines — and defy his grim destiny."

Other members of the creative team include set designer Rebecca Ringst, costume designer Ana Kuzmanic, lighting designer James F. Ingalls, sound designer Richard Woodbury and music director Andra Velis Simon.

PlayBacks: Camino Real, a post-show discussion with members of the artistic staff, are held each Wednesday and Thursday. Goodman's 2011-12 season also includes The Convert by Danai Gurira, directed by Emily Mann and co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center and Center Theatre Group (now through March 25); Fish Men by Cándido Tirado, directed by Edward Torres, in partnership with Teatro Vista (April 7–May 6); The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Robert Falls (April 21–June 10); and Crowns, written and directed by Regina Taylor (June 30–Aug. 5).

Goodman Theatre's box office is located at 170 North Dearborn Street in Chicago, IL. For more information and tickets, call (312) 443-3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org.